Art History/Music - AH113 (or PA200)/MU221: Asian Art and Music

The two-block course fulfills two units of the Critical Perspectives: Global Cultures requirement

Block 1: Introduction to Indian, Chinese, and Japanese Art, investigating interrelationships among art, literature, religious philosophy, and politics. Considers relationships in art among India, China, and Japan, as well as other cultural traditions. Media covered include jades, bronzes, tomb art, architecture, sculpture, ceramics, paintings, and prints. Topics of particular interest include: early religious philosophies and their visual imagery; ideologies of landscape in China; political symbolism in all eras; Zen aesthetics in the arts; and the broadening market for art in the early modern era.

Block 2: Introduction to Indian, Chinese, and Japanese Music, investigating the interrelationships among music, literature, religious philosophy, and politics. Considers relationships in music among India, China, and Japan, as well as other cultural traditions. Genres covered include sacred chant and sung poetry as well as court, folk, dance, and theater musics. Topics of particular interest include: early religious philosophies and their aural imagery; ideologies of sound in India and East Asia; music and political symbolism in all eras; Zen aesthetics in music; and Asian musical cultures in colonial relations with the West.

Two linked blocks, one separate grade for each block.

Details:

This course is a gateway to the majors in Asian Studies, Art History, and Music.

One unit serves as an elective in Art History, one unit serves as an elective in Music, and two units serve as electives in Asian Studies.

No prior experience in art history, music, or Asian Studies is necessary.

There may be a one-day field trip in block 1; there is no field trip in block 2 but there may be required attendance at an evening or afternoon concert in block 2.